Masking tape applicator

ABSTRACT

A MANUALLLY OPERATED APPLICATOR FOR TRANSFERRING PRESSURE SENSITIVE MASKING TAPE FROM A SUPPLY ROLL ONTO AN OBJECT WITH EASE AND PRECISION.THE APPLICATOR INCLUDES MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE ROLL OF TAPE AND GUIDE MEANS FOR CAUSING THE TAPE TO SERIALLY PASS OVER ONE OR TWO DISPENSING PLANES WHICH INTERSECT AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WHILE BEING APPLIED TO AN OBJECT. DISPOSED WITHIN THE APPLICATOR IS A TAPE CUT-OFF BLADE, WHICH UPON OPERATION IS PROJECTED THROUGH THE VERTEX OF SAID PLANES AND IS THEN AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTED INTO THE APPLICATOR.

` June 19, 1973 A. E. vlDlNsKY ,l 3,740,297

MASKING TAPE APPLICATOR Fild Dec. 29, 1971 IN VENT 0R.

` ALFRED E. vlomsKY FIG.` 4

"L M. A

lUnited States Patent Oliice 3,740,297 Patented June 19 1973 3,740,297MASKING TAPE APPLICATOR Alfred E. Vidinsky, 6245 Glenwood Drive, Mentor,Ohio 44060 Filed Dec. 29, 1971, Ser. No. 213,405 Int. Cl. B32b 31/00;B44c 7/00 U.S. Cl. 156-523 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Pressure4sensitive masking tapes are so widely used both in industry and byultimate consumers that a prolonged description or discussion thereof orof the various uses to which they may be put would be unwarranted. Suchtapes come in a roll from which a piece of desired length is cut andthen applied to the object it is desired to protect. One common use ofsuch masking tapes, well known to all, is in protecting the baseboardand other trim While painting the walls of a room. Also, as well knownto all, it is extremely diicult, if not impossible, to apply the tapeprecisely as desired.

With the foregoing in mind it is a major object of this invention toprovide a masking tape applicator with which even the most unskilledoperator, handyman, do-it-yourselfer can apply masking tape in desiredconiiguration upon baseboards, moldings, door frames, and the like withaccuracy and precision.

Another object is to provide a manually operated applicator which, whilebeing well constructed and suitable for the uses to which it may be put,may be manufactured cheaply and hence sold at a nominal price.

Further objects will be apparent from the following description and thedrawings in which.

IN THE DRAWINGS PIG. l is an underside view of the applicator.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. l in thedirection of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, with certain parts broken away, takenalong the line 3 3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a topside elevation view of the dispenser which alsoillustrates its use in traversing two intersecting surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, the applicatorcomprises a base 1 of more or less rectangular configuration havingintersecting e'dges 2 and 3 and provided with a centrally located axle 4extending perpendicular therefrom and which may be formed integrallytherewith. Rotatably mounted on the axle 4 is a spool 5, having a boss 6which forms a thrust bearing against the base 1. The spool is restrainedagainst axial movement by a capscrew 7, threaded into the axle 4, andwasher 8. This arrangement provides a simple, inexpensive mounting forthe spool 5 whereby it may be easily removed to facilitate mounting of aroll of masking tape thereon.

The cylindrical outer wall of the spool 5 is adapted to frictionallyengage the arbor 9 of a roll of masking tape,

such as shown at 10, and may be provided with a slight draft tofacilitate mounting of the tape and to insure that it is retained ingripping engagement when bottomed on a ange 11 with which the spool 5 isprovided. If required, a spacer, such as shown at 12, may be used toaccommodate rolls of masking tape of various widths. My inventioncomprehends, for example, including with each applicator a plurality ofspacers each having a dierent Width, so that the user may select the onerequired to accurately position a selected roll of masking tape on thespool S.

Iournaled in the base 1 and extending perpendicular therefrom arecylindrical rollers 13, 14, and 15. As shown, roller 13 is so located inthe base 1 that the cylindrical side thereof is flush with, or extendsslightly beyond, the edge 2, whereas rollers 14 and 15 are so locatedthat the cylindrical sides thereof are llush with, or extend slightlybeyond, the edge 3. Rollers 13 andl 15 are preferably disposedequidisant from and diametrically opposite the center of axle 4. Theroller 14 may be located as desired along the edge 3 but preferably sothat it is equally distant from the rollers 13 and 15.

Mounted on the base 1, or formed integrally therewith, is a triangularblock 16 having sides 17, 18, and 19. If extended the sides 18 and 19would intersect at an acute angle, however, as shown they are joinedtogether -by a rounded nose 20 in line with the outer cylindricalsurfaces of rollers 14 and 15. The side 18 extends rearwardly from thenose 20, parallel to the edge 2, and in line with the outer cylindrcalsurface of the roller 13.

In loading the applicator the roll of tape after being inserted on thespool 5 is passed with the gummy side out in series sequence over theroller 13, nose 20, roller 14, and lastly roller 15. After loading theapplicator is ready for use and in FIG. 4 I have shown a typicalapplication wherein it is, for example, desired to paint a wall 21without having the paint inadvertently run on the floor 22 or wall 23.In using the applicator it is held by means of a handle 24 secured tothe face of the base 1 and pressed laterally against the wall 21,downward against the floor 22, and moved from right to left as shown inFIG. 4, thus causing the tape to unwind and be held in grippingengagement with the floor Z2.

As shown more clearly in FIG. l the outer ends of the rollers 13, 14,and 15 are convex and extend slightly beyond the edge of the tape, sothat when the applicator is in use as described in the precedingparagraph they form a 3point contact with the wall 21, while permittingthe tape as it unwinds to be placed on the floor 22 so that the edgethereof coincides with the intersection with the wall 21. The 3pointcontact with the Wall 21 provided by the rollers 13, 14, and 15 enablesan operator to readily follow changes in surface contour whilemaintaining the applicator in rm slidable engagement therewith. Bytilting the applicator in a counter clockwise direction the nose 20forms a pressure line against the tape and assists in the firm adhesionof the tape to the floor. Similarly, the applicator may be tilted sothat the roller 13 or roller 15 forms the maximum pressure line.

A major diliiculty encountered in manually applying tape is intraversing the intersection of two surfaces, for example, theintersection formed by a floor and a wall, or a baseboard with a doorjamb. Such an operation is easily performed with my applicator by`virtue of having the nose 20 the apex of an acute angle formed by thetape with roller 13, nose 20, and rollers 14 and 15. Upon the nose 20reaching the intersection of the iloor 22 with the wall 23, theapplicator is tilted. to the position shown at 25 so that it is thesection of tape between nose 20 and roller 13 that engages the wall 23.In traversing the wall 23 the applicator may be maintained in the tiltedposition shown at 2S or may be rotated clockwise about the nose 20 untilrestored to the original position as shown at 30. Thereafter the sectionof tape between the nose 20 and roller 15 will engage the Wall 23.

Disposed within the triangular block 16 is a tape cutoi 4knife 26 havingan end blade 27 and operating handle 28 extending through the face ofbase 1. Normally the 'knife is held in retracted position within theblock 16 by means of a compression spring 29. Upon the handle 28 beingoperated against the spring 29, the blade 27 is projected through thenose 20 to cut off the tape. Upon the handle 28 being released the knifeis automatically retracted into the block 16 by the spring 29.

It will be apparent that the embodiment of my invention shown anddescribed is by way of example only, and that Various modications can bemade within the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure sensitive masking tape applicator, comprising a baseprovided with a perpendicularly extending axle, a spool rotatablymounted on said axle forming a holder for a roll of masking tape havinga gummy and an ungummy side, a rst roller journaled in said basedisposed on one side of said spool, a second roller journaled in saidbase, said first and second rollers disposed diametrically opposite thecenter of said axle, a nose disposed on said base extendingperpendicularly therefrom and disposed laterally from said spool betweensaid rst and second rollers and forming with said rollers the apex of anacute angle so that said tape when serially passed over said firstroller with the ungummy side in contact therewith, then said nose andthen said second roller forms a rst section between said first rollerand said nose and a second section between said nose and said secondroller, each section having the .gummy side out and available forgripping engagement with an object.

2. A masking tape applicator as set forth in claim 1 further including athird roller journaled in said base, the cylindrical surface of whichengages the ungummy side of the tape between one or the other of saidrst and second rollers and said nose.

3. A masking tape applicator as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidrollers are provided with convex outer ends extending slightly beyondthe edge of the tape away from said base.

4. A masking tape applicator as set forth in claim 3 further including ahandle mounted on said base on the side opposite from said axle formanually moving said applicator along a desired path.

5. A masking tape applicator as set forth in claim 4 further including atape cut-off knife normally retracted into a slot provided in said noseand manual means for projecting said knife from said retracted positionthrough said tape and means for thereafter returning said knife to theretracted position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,775,728 9/ 1930 Littlefieldl56527 `2,794,566 6/1957 Smith 156-577 2,846,106 8/1958 Castiglione156--523 3,539,418 11/1970 Combs 156-577 3,658,628 4/ 1972 Zenter156--527 DOUGLAS I. DRUMMOND, Primary Examiner

